“Fellow citizens, we cannot escape history. We of this Congress and this administration will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance or insignificance can spare one or another of us. The fiery trial through which we pass will light us down in honor, or dishonor to the latest generation.”

–Abraham Lincoln in a message to Congress, Dec. 1, 1862.

President Lincoln’s words echo today as Congress debates the Iran nuclear agreement. We are embarked on an historic process — one that will potentially result in one of the most important votes that any member in this body will take. It’s a vote that could entail the risk of further conflict in an already dangerous region, and will have implications for our relationships in the Middle East and throughout the world.

Since the United States and its P5+1 partners — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and Germany — as well as the European Union reached an agreement with Iran on July 14, I have been deeply committed to reading, reviewing, and understanding the deal to decide whether or not it’s in the best interest of our country and our allies. Frankly, I was disappointed at the outpouring of reaction from people who haven’t read the agreement and who haven’t studied the implications. To render judgment on an agreement before the ink is even dry seems to me an abdication of our responsibility as members of this institution.

I believe it is paramount that we read the agreement — word for word — and note questions, observe data, and study the analysis in order to make a responsible decision. That’s my first step and it’s something that I continue to be deeply engaged in. My second step is to seek expertise — to reach outside the Senate and the Administration to hear from nuclear physicists, economists, arms inspection experts, and defense and foreign relations advisors to help me gain as much knowledge and expertise in the facts of this agreement as possible.

As I move through these steps, it is of course vital to consider the alternatives. No agreement like this can be judged solely in isolation because we are operating in conjunction with countries across the globe, and our actions will be felt by the entire international community. So, we must ask: what happens if we don’t accept this agreement? What happens if we do? What happens if we do nothing? What does Iran do then? What happens to our relationships in the Middle East? What is Iran’s path to a bomb if this agreement is not approved?

This is how I will approach my consideration of the agreement. This is too important and the consequences are too serious for Congress not to give this deal due consideration. Even though we’re headed into a presidential election year, even though there are partisan differences, even though there are differences with this president, this is an historic vote, and it is a solemn responsibility. As members of Congress, we owe the people of America a close reading of the facts, a balanced weighing of the alternatives, and our best judgment. That’s what the people of Maine expect of me, and, I believe, is what the people of America expect of their Congress.